Natural heat cap

ABSTRACT

A natural heat cap shaped to cover the head and confine the hair and scalp of the wearer comprising an outer layer of pliable material, an inner layer of pliable material secured to said outer layer, the inner surface of said inner layer being highly reflective, and fastening means on said cap for holding at least the marginal edges of said cap tightly about the head of the user.

United States Patent [1 1 Schulman [111 3,746,015 [451 July 17, 1973NATURAL HEAT CAP [76] Inventor: Stanley W. Schulman, 2 Maplewood Lane,Roslyn,N.Y. 11576 [22] Filed: July 2, 1971 [21] App]. No.: 159,197

[52] [1.8. CI. 132/9 [51] Int. Cl A4511 20/18 [58] Field of Search132/9, 7, 46, 49, 132/148; 128/76, 171, 164; 34/95; 2/174, 7,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Sliman 34/95 Berryhill eta1. 132/9 THREAD ELASTIC 3,029,438 4/1962 Henschel 2/7 3,390,689 7/1968Newman 132 9 2,875,447 3 1959 Goldmerstein 2 1712 Primary Examiner-LouisG. Mlancenc Assistant Examiner-Gregory E. McNeil] Attorney -Roberts B.Larson, Thomas P. Sarro et al.

[5 7] ABSTRACT A natural heat cap shaped to cover the head and con- 5Claims, 3 Drawing Figures CLOTH4 pmmeuwu 3.146.615

FIG. I

CLOTH-4 INVENTOR STA N LE Y W. SCHULMAN ATTORNEYS NATURAL HEAT CAP Thepresent invention relates to a novel cap useful, for instance, in theacceleration of hair or scalp treatment or conditioning process as forsame. A variety of hair or scalp conditioner formulations have beenmarketed and are extensively used both at home and in beauty parlors torevitalize or otherwise restore the hair or scalp to a more healthfulstate. With many of these formulations a heat treatment is recommendedto hasten or accelerate the conditioning process. It is known, forexample, to cover the hair with a cap after the conditioning or treatingformulation has been applied and then subject the capped hair to heattreatment by externally applied heat. For instance, the capped head ismost conveniently put under a hair drier for a few minutes or the capitself is supplied with heating coils or the like. At home theapplication of heat may take the form of hot towels wrapped about thehair and scalp or by subjecting the conditioner-containing hair or scalpto other common sources of radiant or hot air heat means. Most of thesecases by and large impair the persons mobility and require her to remainin a fixed position for a period of time. Another common complaintresides with these externally applied heat treating methods since caremust be taken during the application of the heat so that temperaturesand heat periods do not damage the hair or scalp in the presence of aparticular hair conditioning or treating liquid. Yet another shortcomingof prior art caps is their inability to sufficiently contain theconditioning or treating material during the treating process.

An object of the invention is to provide asimple and economical cap bywhich the hair or scalp conditioning or treating process may beaccelerated.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cap for the heattreatment of conditioner-containinghairor scalp which rendersunnecessary the application of external or artificial heat.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a cap which permitsuse of the wearers natural body heat for the heat treatment so as togive the scalp and hair a natural deep conditioning necessary to makethe scalp healthy and the hair easy to manage.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cap which .retains themoistureof the treating or conditioning composition onthe hair necessaryfor proper conditioning of the hair during the entire heat treatment.

A further object of the invention is to provide a cap which is sturdy,conveniently portable and hand washable.

These and other objects of the invention are obtained by a cap deviceshaped to substantially cover the head and confine the hair and scalpofthe wearer which cap comprises an outer layer of pliable material, aninner layer of pliable material secured to the outer layer, the innersurface of the inner layer being highly heat reflective and fasteningmeanson said cap for holdingat least the marginal edgesiofsaid captightlyabout the head of the wearer.

The features of the invention believed to be novel are set forth withparticularity in theappended claims. This invention itself, both as toits organization and manner of operation, together with further objectsand advan- *tages thereof, maybe best understood by reference to thefollowing description "taken in connection with the accompanying drawingin which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the cap device of the invention fittedonto the head of the wearer;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the cap device of the invention takenalong line 2 2' of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is another sectional view of the cap device taken along line 3 3of FIG. 1.

Referring to the drawing, the cap device, indicated generally as number1 comprises an outer layer 4 which may be made of any suitable pliableflexible material such as for instance fabrics of natural and syntheticfibers, either woven or unwoven; pliable synthetic plastic sheetmaterials, and the like. Suitable fabrics for use as the outer layerinclude, natural fabrics of wool, cotton, silk, flax, etc.; fabrics ofsynthetic fibers such as polyester, cellulose acetate, etc.; and fabricsof blends of natural and synthetic fibers such as cotton-polyestermixtures. Illustrative of suitable plastic sheet materials which may beused as the outer layer may be mentioned, polyvinyl chloride,polystyrene, polyesters such as polyethylene terephthalate,polyethylene, polypropylene, nylon and the like.

An inner layer 5 of pliable material is secured to the inner surface ofthe outer layer 4 to form an inner liner. The inner liner may likewisebe fonned of any suitable flexible material so long as its innersurface, that is the surface facing the hair and scalp of the wearer, isa highly heat reflective surface. Suitable highly heat reflectivesurfaces include surfaces having a low emissiv ity at ambienttemperatures of no greater than about 0.1, preferably no greater thanabout 0.05. Thus, the inner layer may constitute a thin sheet of a heatreflec tive metal such as aluminum, silver, copper, chromium, tin andthe like. Alternatively, the inner layer 5 of the invention may take theform of a thin pliable substrate such as a plastic sheet materialprovided on its inner surface with a layer of a heat reflectivematerial. This latter arrangement can be fabricated for instance, byusing any of the well known metal deposition techniques of the art such.as, for example, vacuum or electro-chemical deposition of the metalonto the surface of the substrate. Also, if desired, the highlyreflective surface may be provided the inner layer 5 by laminating tothe innersurface of the inner layer substrate a thin film of areflective metal. It is usually preferred that the inner layer beessentially non-hygroscopic and substantially water-impermeable. Thereason for this is that unlike for instance hair drying caps where theescape of water is desired, in the heat treatment of a conditioned hairor scalp, it is important to retain or confine the moisture fortheduration of the conditioning period.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, an intermediate layer 7 ofpliable material is disposed between the inner layer and outer layer andbounded to both by any suitable means. The intermediate layer 7 maybeformed of any pliable flexible material such as those discussed withreference to the outer layer.

Securing of the respective layers to each other may be accomplished inany suitable manner such as adhesive bonding, stitching, sewing, etc.Most conveniently, the bonding is effected by laminating the respectivelayers to each other employing one of the variety of laminatingadhesives available for this purpose.

The means for fastening the cap device of the head of the wearerlikewise may take any desired form. The preferred arrangement, however,is the provision of an elastic band 1 l or the like near the marginaledge of the cap which stretches to fit the head of any wearer. Qthermeans such as tie strings and the like will come readily to the mind ofthose skilled in this art.

The shaping and construction of the cap device of the invention may beundertaken in a number of different ways. A simple method involves firstcutting out of a pliable nylon sheet a circle 18 to 20 inches indiameter which shall constitute the outer layer of the cap device. Asecond circle is then cut out of a thin pliable sheet, say of about A;to A mil in thickness of polyethylene terephthalate having vacuumdeposited on one surface thereof a mirror-like, reflective surface ofaluminum, the diameter of the circle being preferably slightly less thanthe diameter of the circle of nylon. Yet a third circle having adiameter substantially equal to that of the circle of polyethyleneterephthalate is cut out of a cotton fabric and the circles ofpolyethylene terephthalate and circle of cotton fabric are laminatedtogether with a suitable laminating adhesive such an epoxy resin in amanner that leaves the reflective surface facing outwardly. Theresulting laminant is then laminated to the outer layer 4 in a similarmanner. To complete the fabrication of the cap device of the inventionan elastic band approximately inches in length is sewn approximately 1inch from the marginal edge of the three layer composite.

If desired, decorative elements can be provided on the outer layer 4.These elements can take the form of plastic or fabric components,decorative or plain in design and secured to the outer layer 4 by sewingor bonding with suitable adhesive.

The cap device of the invention finds a number of uses but itparticularly applicable as aforementioned in the heat treatment of hairor scalp to which a conditioner or other treating medium has beenapplied and to which the application of heat is beneficial oradvantageous for proper conditioning. For example, once a lanolin or asimilar hair or scalp conditioner has been applied to the head or hairof the wearer, the wearer puts on the cap of the invention. Thereafter,the wearer is free to carry on her normal domestic or other duties forthe time period prescribed for completion of the hair or scalpconditioning process. During this time, the natural body heat eminatingfrom the wearers head and scalp will be reflected by the heat reflectivesurface of the inner layer. In this manner, the heat of ones own bodygives the hair and scalp the deep conditioning necessary to improve thehealth of the scalp and hair and make the hair easier to manage. Sincethe inner body is essentially hygroscopic and impermeable to water vaporand liquid, there is little or no loss of the wet conditioning ortreating formulations applied during the conditioning process. Uponcompletion of the treatment, the cap device is removed and the wearermay complete the hair or scalp processing such as by rinsing, setting,etc. After use, the cap device may be hand washed without damage so thatit is ready for reuse.

Although the cap device has been described primarily with regard toprocesses for the treatment of scalp or hair, it is not limited theretoand will find use in other areas. For example, the cap device has alsobeen found useful in hair dyeing or tinting applications.

While the particular embodiments of the present in vention have beenshown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art thatchanges and modifications may be made without departing from thisinvention in its broader aspects and, therefore, the aim in the appendedclaims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within thetrue spirit and scope of this invention.

It is claimed: 7

1. A cap device shaped to cover the head and confine the hair and scalpof the wearer comprising an outer layer of pliable material, an innerlayer of pliable material secured to said outer layer, the inner surfaceof said inner layer being metalic and highly heat reflective and beingco-extensive with said outer surface, and fastening means on said capfor holding at least the marginal edges of said cap tightly about thehead of the user.

2. The cap device of claim 1 wherein the outer layer is of a pliableplastic material.

3. The cap device of claim 1 including an intermediate layer of pliablematerial bonded on one side to the outer layer and on the other side tothe inner layer.

4. The cap device of claim 1 wherein the fastening means is elasticattached to the edge of said cap.

5. The cap device shaped to cover the head and confine the hair andscalp of a wearer comprising an outer layer of fabric material, an innerlayer of a pliable, plastic sheet material bonded on one surface to saidouter fabric layer, said inner layer of plastic material having a highlyheat reflective metalic inner surface and being co-extensive with saidouter surface, and an elastic means provided near the marginal edges ofsaid cap for holding the cap tightly onto the head of the wearer.

1. A cap device shaped to cover the head and confine the hair and scalpof the wearer comprising an outer layer of pliable material, an innerlayer of pliable material secured to said outer layer, the inner surfaceof said inner layer being metalic and highly heat reflective and beingco-extensive with said outer surface, and fastening means on said capfor holding at least the marginal edges of said cap tightly about thehead of the user.
 2. The cap device of claim 1 wherein the outer layeris of a pliable plastic material.
 3. The cap device of claim 1 includingan intermediate layer of pliable material bonded on one side to theouter layer and on the other side to the inner layer.
 4. The cap deviceof claim 1 wherein the fastening means is elastic attached to the edgeof said cap.
 5. The cap device shaped to cover the head and confine thehair and scalp of a wearer comprising an outer layer of fabric material,an inner layer of a pliable, plastic sheet material bonded on onesurface to said outer fabric layer, said inner layer of plastic materialhaving a highly heat reflective metalic inner surface and beingco-extensive with said outer surface, and an elastic means provided nearthe marginal edges of said cap for holding the cap tightly onto the headof the wearer.